To Do List 2023

 I can't think of any better way of starting a new year than having a list of plans you want to achieve.

2023 kicks off with me staring at a formidable list of entirely self imposed targets, and whilst it would be the easy option to go out and do the gigs I choose, go to the gym every day, and make a small supplementary income from the stock market (more to do with dumb luck and intuition as opposed to knowledge and skill I should stress) I just can't resist a new challenge, or two, or three, or four.

Top of the list is producing an album or two in association with my great friend and musical kindred spirit Simon Spillett.

First off is the Tubby Hayes big band project featuring an absolute A-list team of British jazz talent performing scores by and associated with the legendary saxophonist. We are getting close to nai!ing down the studio date and the end result promises to be something very special indeed. It is also my intention to set up a boutique record label in order to release what promises to be a significant work.

But a record label with only one release on its catalogue strikes me as an opportunity missed, so in addition to the big band I'm planning a release featuring Simon's great quartet, the other fifty percent of course being Rob Barron and Alex Dankworth.  This group has played together so much post pandemic and is on fire to a point where we might invalidate the buildings insurance in one or two venues!

Predictably, big band music crops up several times on my do list.

As restrictions were lifted post lockdown I was surprised and more than a little flattered to be approached by a leading specialist music agency who were seeking to expand their jazz roster.

Coming up with a new format was the next challenge, but it didn't take all that long as it transpired. Having had so much success between 2007 and 2018 in which period the band performed significantly in excess of a hundred concerts featuring music made famous by the one and only Buddy Rich, I began to think of all those other amazing drummers who were the biggest names in the golden age of big bands and jazz.

Names like Gene Krupa, Louie Bellson, Joe Morello, Shelly Manne, Sonny Payne, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams and so many more. The great music associated with these legends includes repertoire from Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and many more besides.

I might even throw in a little seventies rock and funk. Gadd, Cobham, Garibaldi even some Bonham. Hilarity guaranteed.

So I thought it would be a great idea to pull all this together, and the idea of The Great Drum Show was born. I fully expect that in no time at all we will be embarking on an extended run in the West End, 😁 but to begin with I'm going to be doing a few try out dates. The first of the is at the Arc in Winchester on Saturday April 29th, and you can find more details and a ticket link here.

Also given that 2023 marks the fortieth anniversary of the first outing by the Pete Cater Big Band, I do have a plan for one of two 'autobiographical ' shows revisiting past repertoire, in addition to a few old favourites from those great years with MYJO in the late seventies and early eighties.

Not only that but there are plans for a big band drumming audio educational package, a whole lot of other great gigs with great people and goodness knows what elsr.

OK. Time to stop writing and get on with it.

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